Latch type cartridge link



March 1962 N. D. KINTZER 3,026,776

LATCH TYPE CARTRIDGE LINK Filed June 21, 1960 E'iglju INVEN TOR. 28 1111111111115 11-1 1111211 3,026,776 LATCH TYPE CARTRIDGE LINK Nicholas 1). Kintzer, Watertown, Conn, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed June 21, 1960, Ser. No. 37,819 8 Claims. (Cl. 89-35) This invention relates to cartridge belt links and more particularly to links which releasably retain the cartridges so that they can be side-stripped therefrom.

Links of side-stripping type have definite advantages over the push-through type as they permit a higher cyclic rate of fire. Such side-stripping links, however, present the problem of providing retention means which will hold the cartridges against disengagement therefrom when subjected to accelerative and centrifugal forces during transfer from a source of supply to the gun but which will permit the cartridges to be stripped therefrom without damaging the cartridges.

The conventional means for releasably retaining the cartridges in such links is through the use of spring clamp means which either engage the cartridge cases along the entire length thereof or at spaced positions therealong. Such retaining means are not entirely satisfactory because When they are designed so that the cartridges can be stripped without damage thereto the cartridges do occasionally escape from the links and this is serious as it causes non-fire and stoppage of the machine guns and a recharging thereof before another burst can be initiated.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a side-stripping type link which includes a rigid clamp pivotally mounted so as to partially encircle the front end of the cartridge case for positive retention thereof.

- It is another object of this invention to provide such a side-stripping type link which has a spring clamp means for releasably retaining the rear end of a cartridge case and a C type rigid clamp which is hinged on an axle disposed lateral to the central vertical plane of the link so as to partially surround the front end of the cartridge cases when in the clamping position and which is springbiased for retention in both a release and the clamping positions.

The specific nature of the invention as Well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompnaying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the link and connector with a cartridge installed in the link and the clamp in clamping position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the link showing the clamp in the clamping position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the clamp in the release position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the link with a cartridge clamped therein with a cooperating rammer and camming surface of a firearm feeding mechanism shown in phantom.

Shown in the figures is a link 12 and a connector 14 for connecting two or more of the links together to form a cartridge belt. Link 12 is of side-stripping type so that a cartridge 16 may be pressed therefrom by a stripper shown in phantom at 17. Cartridge 16 includes a case 18 having a body portion 19, a neck portion 20 of reduced diameter extending forwardly therefrom, and an extractor groove 22 disposed around the base.

Link 12 is composed of a round holder 24 to which there is mounted, as hereinafter described, a rigid clamp 26 of the C configuration with an opening 27 therein. Round holder 24 is preferably fabricated from a single piece of flat spring steel stock and includes a pair of arcuate arms 28 which are disposed approximately at the center of gravity of link 12 when cartridge 15 is retained therein. The arms 28 are channel formed, in crosssection, for strengthening purposes and the ends of the arms are spaced to permit the passage of case 18 therebetween when pushed sideways from link 12. The arms 28 are also eccentrically formed, respective to case 18, to provide a clearance between the case and the arms for the insertion of connector 14 therebetween. The ends of the arms 28 are disposed sufficiently close to case 18 to prevent connector 14 from slipping off the arms.

Extending symmetrically rearward from the arms 28 is a rim-gripper 30 which is essentially triangular in configuration with the sides flaring outwardly and rearwardly from where the arms join. Rim-gripper 30 is curved to a diameter somewhat less than that of the rear end of case 18' so as to have resilient engagement therewith when cartridge 16 is pressed into link 12. The rear end of rim-gripper 30 extends sufiiciently around the base of case 18 so that a pair of detents 32 disposed for engagement with extractor groove 22 may be spaced therein more than 180 apart, whereby the base of cartridge 16 is resiliently retained by the rim-gripper.

Clamp 26 is pivotally supported by means of a bridge 36 which extends symmetrically forward from the junction of the arms 28, and which is radially spaced from case 18 so that stripper 17 may be insertable between the bridge and case for removal of cartridge 16 from link 12. The front of bridge 36 is trifurcated longitudinally to form three laterally spaced tines 38 which extend forwardly therefrom. The ends of the two outside tines 38 are provided with hooks 40 which open at the top and which are received by mating apertures 42 extending through clamp 26 opposite opening 27 so that the clamp is pivotal around a lateral axis between a clamping and a release position. The center tine forms a spring leaf 44 which has resilient contact with a tap 46 which extends outwardly from the front of clamp 26 between the apertures, to resiliently hold the clamp in contact with the hooks 40. Tab 46 includes a fiat end 48, which is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of link 12 when clamp 26 is in the clamping position, and a planar surface 50 which is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the link when the clamp is pivoted forwardly and upwardly to the release position. Whereby, when clamp 26 is in the clamping position, the resilient contact of leaf spring 44 with end 48 resiliently holds the clamp in such position and the clamp is resiliently held in the release position by the contact of the leaf spring with planar surface 50.

Clamp 26 is positioned so as to contact body 19 rearwardly of neck 20 when the clamp is in the clamping position and the width of opening 27 is approximately the same as the diameter of the neck, so that the clamp is passable therecver during rotation of the clamp to the release position, and thereby is less than the diameter of body 19. Whereby, cartridge 16 is rigidly secured in link 12 against side displacement when clamp 26 is in the clamping position as the clamp encircles the cartridge more than A finger 54- extends integrally from clamp 26 and is disposed relative thereto so as to extend longitudinally forward from the clamp when in the clamping position and to extend outwardly when the clamp is in the release position. Finger 54 is disposed for camming engagement by a camming surface which is shown in phantom at 56 and which is part of a firearm feeding mechanism (not shown) for pivotally displacing clamp 26 from the clamping to the release position. After clamp 26 is pivoted to the release position by the engagement of finger 54 with cam surface 56, cartridge 16 is freed for side-stripping from link 12 by stripper 17.

been described in detail herein, it is evident that many I variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intendedto include such variations.

I claim:

1-. In combination, a cartridge link comprising a round holder for resiliently retaining the rear end of a cartridge provided with a case, rigid clamp means pivotally mounted on said round holder and adapted to partially encircle the front end of the case more than 18Q for preventing side displacement of the cartridge from the link, and means for displacing said clamp means to release the cartridge for side-stripping from the link.

2. A cartridge link comprising a round holder adapted to resiliently retain the rear end of a cartridge, rigid clamp means, means for mounting said clamp means to said round holder for pivotal displacement between a clamping and a release position around an axis disposed at right angles to the median plane of the link, said clamp means being adapted to rigidly secure the cartridge against side displacement in the link-when said clamp means is in the clamping position, and a finger extending integrally from said clamp means to provide means for displacing said clamp means from the clamping to the release position to free the cartridge for side-stripping from thelink.

3. A cartridge link for releasably retaining for side stripping therefrom a cartridge having a case provided with a body portion and a neck of reduced diameter extending forwardly therefrom, the link comprising a cartridge holder, a rim-gripper portion formed at the rear-end of said cartridge holder for resiliently retaining the rear end of the cartridge for side removal therefromya bridge formed at the front end of said cartridge holder, hinge means formed at the front end of said bridge so as to be laterally disposed relative to the median plane of the link,

4 clamp is of C configuration with the opening therein having a width approximately the same as the diameter of the neck so that said clamp may be displaced over the neck to release the cartridge.

5. The cartridge link as defined in claim 3 wherein said clamp is of C configuration with an opening having a width approximately the same as the diameter of the neck, said hinge means is adapted so that said clamp is pivotal around an axis disposed at right angles to the central vertical plane of the link, and said bridge is adapted to position said clamp so asto partially encircle the front end of the body portion of the case for blocking side displacement of the cartridge from the link when said clamp is in theclamping position and so thatsaid clamp. is'passable over the neck by means'of said opening during displacement of said clamp to the release position.

6. The cartridge link as defined in claim 3 wherein said hinge means is disposed for cooperation with said clamp to resiliently restrain said clamp in the clamping and the release positions. I

7. The cartridge link as defined in claim 3 wherein said clamp is of C configuration and includes an opening having a width approximately the same as the diameter of said clamp, and a spring leaf formed by the'rniddle one, of

said tines, said spring leaf being disposed for resilient contact with the inside edge of said clamp between said apera rigid clamp pivotally supported by said hinge means for tures to retain said clamp in said hooks.

8. The cartridge link as defined in claim 7 wherein said clamp includes a tab, integrally disposed on said clamp for resilient contact by said leaf spring, saidtab including an end contacted by said leaf spring when said clamp. is in the clamping position for resiliently retaining saidclamp therein and a planar surface contacted byv said leaf spring when said leaf spring is in the release position forresilien-tly retaining said clamp therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,804,807 Dixon Sept. 3, 1957 

